Illinois Leads Nation in Wetland Rewilding

Illinois has pioneered a new approach to environmental conservation by becoming the first state to officially recognize rewilding through the Illinois Rewilding Law. This legislation, enacted last month, grants the Illinois Department of Natural Resources authority to pursue projects aimed at restoring land to its natural condition.

The law was enacted partly in response to weakened federal wetland protections, notably the U.S. Supreme Court's 2023 ruling in Sackett v. EPA and the EPA's subsequent revised Waters of the United States rule. These actions significantly reduced federal Clean Water Act protections for millions of acres of wetlands nationwide.

Environmentalists emphasize the critical role of wetlands in maintaining water quality, preventing floods, and supporting biodiversity. The new law, while largely symbolic currently, is seen as a crucial first step toward more robust legislative action. Lawmakers are now working on a Wetlands Protection Act to grant permitting powers for private land development impacting wetlands.

This proposed act would implement a "no-net-loss" policy, requiring developers to fund wetland restoration elsewhere for any wetlands they remove. Efforts are underway to restore wetlands on former industrial sites and farmlands, with a focus on improving water quality, mitigating flood risks, and enhancing ecosystem resilience in the face of climate change.